Battle of McPherson's Ridge

The Battle of McPherson's Ridge was one of the main phases of the Battle of Gettysburg whose smaller actions constituted the first two days of the larger battle-campaign. The Confederates launched many attacks on the ridge but John Buford's Union cavalry held out until reinforcements arrived. Only after the Confederates captured Charles Coster's cannons and after many bloody assaults did the Union fall back to Little Round Top and Devil's Den.

Background
Henry Heth marched on McPherson's Ridge, which John Buford had still managed to occupy despite his defeat in the Battle of Herr's Ridge earlier that day. Heth was unaware that John Reynolds and James S. Wadsworth were approaching with the Union First Corps (including Solomon Meredith's Iron Brigade) to relieve the Union cavalrymen. Buford organized a valiant defense of the hill, organizing his men at the top and making sure to hold out rather than attack.

Battle
Heth's artillery proved to be effective in decimating Union troops on the top of the hill, but sharp cavalry skirmishes with Confederate militiamen advancing uphill prevented the CSA from gaining control of the hilltop. After holding the Confederates back for a while, Buford was reinforced by Reynolds and Wadsworth, although Reynolds was shot in the back of the head and died almost instantly. The first phase of the battle was done, but the fighting intensified soon after.

Carl Schurz was sent to defend McPherson's Ridge from the Confederates as reinforcements for the Union there, but his lines began to stretch thin. They were stretched thinner when Francis Barlow left in order to seize Blocher's Knoll before the Confederacy, and by July 2, the situation was grave. Charles Coster's Union artillery on the hill were seized by the Confederate army and later in the day the Union decided to pull back to the Round Tops and Devil's Den.